Lebanon’s involvement with the Agenda and the SDGs

Lebanon has been an active participant in the process related to the SDGs. It first contributed through
a report to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio+20.
Lebanon also participated in national consultations as inputs to the formulation of the SDGs, and then participated in the summits relating to sustainable
development and the SDGs, finally endorsing on September 2015 the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

An integral part of the national consultations, the MY World Survey was also able to provide insights on the public’s priorities
for Lebanon for the next 15 years. The MY World Survey is a global online and offline survey for citizens everywhere which aims to
demonstrate people’s priorities and views in terms of development, which eventually fed into the definition of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDGs becoming an opportunity for Lebanon

In addressing many issues that are highly relevant to Lebanon and its residents, including goals on equality, economic growth, governance and the environment,
the SDGs are an opportunity for the country to develop an ambitious but achievable shared vision of Lebanon, The Lebanon We Want, for the next fifteen years
and beyond.

Lebanon has the necessary tools to achieve significant progress across various aspects of sustainable development. The Lebanese are famous for their entrepreneurial
spirit, and the country is an example of coexistence. Lebanon is a hugely resourceful country, which is capable of impressive transformations if all its resources –
natural, financial and, particularly, human – are mobilized.

In essence, with a vision and tools, the SDGs are both an opportunity and a challenge for Lebanon. In order to achieve the SDGs and sustainable development
in general, difficult decisions will need to be made that balance today’s demands with tomorrow’s needs. The SDGs are also an opportunity to get everyone around the
table and re-consider the current way of doing “business as usual” to see if Lebanon – and the Lebanese - can do not only more, but do better, to ensure the land of
the cedars a bright, sustainable future and achieve The Lebanon We Want.

No Poverty

What is the goal about?

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

In Lebanon, hard work is being done to help the poorest and the most vulnerable in the country to lift them out of poverty through targeted initiatives. Despite these efforts, many remain below the poverty line and risk being left behind.

Did you know that…?

- 27% of Lebanese are considered poor, spending less than $270 per month.
- In 2015, 70% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon spent less than $120 a month, 65% of Palestine refugees in Lebanon spent less than $210 a month and 90% of Palestine refugees from Syria spent less than $80 a month.

Zero hunger

What is the goal about?

End hunger and ensure that everyone, in particular the poor, has access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

In Lebanon, sufficient and good food is available, but it is not always accessible to everyone. Therefore, there are a number of
People who struggle to make ends meet, tend to consume food products that have nutritional value.

Did you know that…?

-16.5% of children under 5 years old in Lebanon are stunted, meaning they are not developing properly due to malnutrition.
-About 11% of Lebanese, 93% of Syrian refugees, 62% of Palestine refugees in Lebanon, and 94% of Palestine refugees from Syria cannot meet their basic food needs.

Good health and well being

What is the goal about?

A world without disease – physical as well as mental – achieved through high quality health care systems, which cover and protect all people.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Significant advances have been made in increasing life expectancy and reducing some of the common killers in Lebanon, such as coronary heart disease
and respiratory diseases, and in improving access to quality health services. However, there is still work to be done to improve the population’s
health and ensure affordable health care for all.

Did you know that…?

-Over the past 12 years, the number of women in Lebanon who died giving birth was reduced from 84 to 16 out of 100,000.
-51.7% of Lebanese are not covered by any form of health insurance.
-23% of Syrian refugees could not obtain the hospital care they needed in 2015 due to costs.
-About one third of all Palestinian refugees in Lebanon have a chronic medical condition.

Quality education

What is the goal about?

Obtaining quality education is a fundamental human right, the foundation for improving people’s lives and a public good that everyone, everywhere should be able to enjoy, at every stage of their life. Improving access to quality education and lifelong learning is key to ensuring that all can enjoy and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, fair, and sustainable future.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

There has been great progress in reaching higher enrolment in primary education and increasing already high literacy rates among the youth in Lebanon. However, areas for improvement still remain, including reduced repetition and dropout rates and higher enrolment in education for all children and youth

Did you know that…?

-In the 2015-2016 school year, 249,000 Lebanese children were newly enrolled in public education – an increase of 11,000 from the previous year – but about 50,000
Lebanese children were still out of school.
-In 2015-16, 155,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugee children were enrolled in schools and completed their school year, although half of their school-aged peers were
still out of school.
-The percentage of all persons in higher education, regardless of age, has declined from 49.7% in 2011 to 42.8% in 2014.

Gender equality

What is the goal about?

Achieving equality between men and women by eliminating discrimination and violence against women and girls, empowering women to rise to their potential, and achieving equality between women and men in all spheres of life.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

In spite of solid achievements with regard to equality and empowerment, women in Lebanon do not benefit from equal rights, and still face inequality in society, politics, legal affairs and the labour market. Lebanon does not yet enjoy full and unconditional equality between men and women.

Did you know that…?

-In the 2016 municipal elections about 100 more women were elected than in the 2010 municipal elections, while women still only represent 5.5% of the municipal
council seats.
-Only 23.5% of women are part of the labour market, whereas the proportion of men is 70.3%.
-Only 3 percent of national parliamentary seats are held by women.

Clean water and sanitation

What is the goal about?

Giving all people equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation through improved management of services.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Major advances have been made and the majority of people in Lebanon have improved access to water supply, however, the population experiences frequent water shortages and, in many places, the water is not safe to drink. While Lebanon has relatively well established water and wastewater networks, only a small portion of the water and wastewater is treated and managed safely.

Did you know that…?

-Up to 70% of natural water sources in Lebanon are bacterially contaminated.
-In 2012 Lebanon extracted 0.7 billion cubic metres of groundwater, but the groundwater is only replenished with 0.5 billion cubic metres each year.

Affordable and clean energy

What is the goal about?

Ensuring affordable, reliable and efficient energy while also increasing our use of renewable energy.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon has a high potential to move away from oil as a main fuel for energy and rely more on renewable energy from resources such as sun, wind and water. Significant efforts are needed to improve greenhouse gas emissions and the affordability of energy.

Did you know that…?

-In Lebanon up to 4.5% of electricity comes from hydropower and up to 95.5% from oil.
-In 2012 Electricité du Liban (EDL) only met 63% of the demand for electricity in Lebanon.
-53% of Lebanon’s total greenhouse gas emissions were from the energy sector in 2012.

Decent work and economic growth

What is the goal about?

Achieving improved productivity and economic growth which provides employment for all in safe working environments, protected by labour rights.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

While Lebanon’s economy has shown a high level of resilience in the face of regional instability, supported by sectors such as tourism and construction, it has struggled in recent years and growth rates have dropped. Even in previous periods of growth, the economy was unable to generate sufficient jobs, leading to high unemployment rates, especially of women and youth, as well as high emigration of educated youth out of Lebanon.

Did you know that…?

-Despite insecurity, volatility and uncertainty, Lebanon has maintained a modest positive growth in recent years.
-It is estimated that in Lebanon youth unemployment is 21.6%.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

What is the goal about?

Fostering innovation and building resilient infrastructure to promote inclusive sustainable industrialization as a driver of sustained economic growth and sustainable development.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon has a reputation for vibrant entrepreneurship and has done a lot to improve the conditions for small businesses to grow. However, additional efforts are needed to modernize the infrastructure, promote innovation and strengthen the industrial sector.

Did you know that…?

-The information communications technology sector in Lebanon is expected to grow 7.24% annually in the 2015-2018 period.
-Manufacturing exports decreased by almost 30% from 2012 to 2015.
-The estimated cost of traffic congestion in Lebanon is estimated at between 5% and 10% of GDP annually.

Reduced Inequalities

What is the goal about?

Reducing economic, social, legal and political inequalities based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status through the adoption of policies protecting the equal human rights of all.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon faces a wide range of inequalities including income, consumption and social, particularly between Beirut and rural areas. Geographical disparities are
further exacerbated due to the manner of allocating funding directly to municipalities, particularly affecting municipalities in rural areas.

Did you know that…?

-The richest 20% in Lebanon account for 40% of all consumption, five times more than the poorest 20%.
-Lebanon does not have a civil code guaranteeing equal treatment for all in personal status matters such as marriage, custody and inheritance, but rather has 15
separate personal status laws that are linked to religious sects.
-The 244 most vulnerable municipalities host 87% of all displaced persons from Syria.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

What is the goal about?

Providing safe and sustainable cities through the protection of cultural and natural heritage, secure housing, transport systems and road safety with a focus on sustainable urbanization and environmental impact.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon has a rich urban cultural heritage, with a number of the world’s oldest cities. The country has, however, witnessed large demographic changes, including a high level of conflict induced urbanisation and waves of external and internal displacements. Such increasingly complex urban contexts can make it more difficult to maintain social coherence and ensure inclusion.

Did you know that…?

-Around 90% of the population in Lebanon live in urban areas and about 30% live in the Beirut metropolitan area alone.
-The majority of Syrian refugees live in urban areas, often in high density poor neighbourhoods and sometimes in vulnerable conditions.
63% of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and 55% of Palestinian refugees from Syria live inside camps, most of which are located in urban areas

Responsible production and consumption

What is the goal about?

Sustainable consumption and production involves the efficient management of natural resources and chemicals and the reduction of waste pollutant products

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Since 2000, Lebanon has implemented environmental legislation requiring industries to minimize their pollution. However, environmental governance at municipal level
and national level regulation and enforcement needs to be further strengthened for better recycling and waste management.

Did you know that…?

-Lebanon was able to reduce consumption of CFC (a substance that depletes the ozone layer) from 928 tons to 0 tons in less than fifteen years.
-In 2010, 17% of household solid waste was recycled while 83% was sent to landfills or open dumps, including potentially hazardous forms of waste.

Climate action

What is the goal about?

Integrating climate change into national policies and raising awareness about it, while strengthening the country’s ability to deal with the results of climate change.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon has signed several conventions, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, and established several institutions dedicated to the protection of the environment. The country is vulnerable to extreme events such as winter floods and extended hot summer days that are increasing due to climate change. More can be done to reduce Lebanon’s contribution to climate change and increase the capacities of institutions working with environmental issues.

Did you know that…?

-Lebanon increased its greenhouse gas emissions, gases that are harmful to the environment and contribute to climate change, by nearly 5% annually between 1994 and
2012.
-It is estimated that by 2040 rainfall in Lebanon will have decreased by 10-20%.
-At the current rate, sea levels in Lebanon will rise with up to 60 cm in the next 30 years.

Life below water

What is the goal about?

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

With around 240 kilometres of coastline, Lebanon’s coastal zone is a key element of its natural capital, beauty and tourist attractions. However, the lack of protection measures is negatively affecting these ecosystems and the species living in them.

Did you know that…?

-In 2010, 65% of total sewage in Lebanon ended up in coastal waters.
-Between 1975 and 2001 an estimated 1,269 illegal properties were constructed along the coastline, which negatively affected coastal and marine ecosystems.

Life on land

What is the goal about?

Conserving and protecting freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, forests and biodiversity from deforestation, desertification and non-native species

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon, with a unique biodiversity, has an identity that is deeply linked to the cedar tree — and yet its forests are at grave risk of disappearing. Development after the civil war has come at a cost to the natural ecosystems mainly due to unsustainable urban growth.

Did you know that…?

-Lebanon has a very high biodiversity with 0.25 different species per square kilometre—more than in Brazil.
-Growing urbanization is estimated to consume about 5 square kilometres of natural areas every year in Lebanon.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon has a unique political system constructed to safeguard peace and justice. However, parliamentary elections have been postponed twice since the last election in 2009. Many Lebanese are losing faith in the ability of government to provide services, ensure accountability and justice to the population, and worry about risks of violence and radicalization.

Did you know that…?

-The municipal elections in 2016 were completed with only half as many complaints from voters as in 2010.
-In 2015 Lebanon ranked 123rd out of 168 countries and territories on the corruption perception index, placing Lebanon among the bottom 30%.

Partnerships for the goals

What is the goal about?

Building the global and local partnerships that are essential for a country to attain sustainable development, to build capacities, to increase trade and to mobilize financial resources and technologies.

How does that relate to the Lebanon context?

Lebanon has created successful partnerships with a number of countries and regional groups to share and enhance knowledge and to increase exports. Lebanon also has a strong business community and a vibrant civil society which can become partners in efforts made towards sustainable development.

Did you know that…?

-Lebanon has been able to reduce its tax rate on imported goods by almost 75% since 2000.
-Lebanon does not have a public private partnership (PPP) legal framework even though a law was drafted in 2007.

Importance of Youth in 2030 Agenda and SDGs

Youth are at the center of the 2030 Agenda. They played a pivotal role in the formulation of this agenda, and also experience the majority of the issues the 2030 Agenda seeks to address. With half the world under the age of 30, youth are at the forefront in promoting a sustainable future for all and the 2030 Agenda, through campaigns such as #Generation2030 and #FirstGeneration.
Youth in Lebanon have expressed their beliefs for a better sustainable future in Lebanon through a photography competition.
Check the top 9 pictures here!